Sardinia is an island of ancient origins (the first settlements probably date back to the seventh century B.C.). Today it is characterised by the presence of about seven thousand "nuraghi" - which are big stone buildings with the shape of a truncated cone tower ? and were built everywhere; they were used as houses but also probably as temples where mysterious divinities could be worshipped.
All the shores of this island deserve a visit. Starting in the North, we can find the shores of Capo Testa and Santa Teresa , the archipelago of Maddalena with the wonderful islands of Maddalena, only one of which has been consistently inhabited, Caprera (today it is a natural reserve, while once it was Giuseppe Garibaldi's house), Spargi, Budelli (the only one you won't be able to visit since it is a protected area) and Santa Maria e Razzoli. Continuing towards the South we find Costa Smeralda ( Poltu Quatu, Porto Rotondo and Porto Cervo ), Golfo Aranci , Olbia and the islands of Tavolara and Molara.
In the province of Nuoro (Gallura) there are the pure beaches of San Teodoro and Budoni ; then, there are Posada, Siniscola and Orosei (Baronia), where there is the wildest coast , the Gulf of Orosei, Cala Gonone-Dorgali : we suggest visiting this area by boat so as to enjoy its very clean sea (where monk seals have been seen several times), isolated beaches, caves and high limestone cliffs. Towards the South there are the isolated and not very well known shores of Tortolì, Barisardo, Gairo, Tertenia .
The western part of the island is dominated by Alghero, with its beaches and the limestone cliffs of Capo Caccia and by Stintino, famous for the incredible colour of the very clean and crystalline water of the sea and for its beach "La Pelosa".
In front of Stintino, Asinara Island in the west is characterised by high cliffs, rocky steep slopes and in the east by wide inlets and small beaches; as far as the fauna is concerned, we can find pellegrine hawks , magpies, hares, mouflon sheep, wild boars, horses, small Sardinian donkeys and quaint little white donkeys. The western coasts are rocky and characterised by wide and isolated beaches. The Gulf of Cagliari offers a low and sandy coast, while on the South Eastern coast we can find the wonderful beaches of Villasimius, Castiadas and Muravera. Among the seaside-resorts situated in the South of Sardinia we suggest Nora, S. Margherita di Pula, Chia, Capo di Teulada and the islands of St. Peter and St. Antioco. The flora is characterised by the Mediterranean scrub, dominated by myrtle, lavender, rosemary, heather and above all pine trees. The weather is fine from April to September (until October in the Southern part of the island) and it is never excessively hot in July and August, because it is windy, and there is almost no risk of rain.
Sardinia doesn't offer only the sea, beaches and sun, but also a hinterland where you will be able to follow archaeological and enogastronomic itineraries, admire cultural and folk shows, go on farm holidays, take part in trekking or equestrian tourism in untouched and suggestive environments.

LOCAL CULINARY SPECIALITIES:
First course : botargo spaghetti, "sa fregula", a soup with cereals, "pane frattau", a kind of soup, "malloreddus", a kind of gnocchi, "culurgiones", raviolis stuffed with potatoes and mint and seasoned with butter and sage.
The second course : meat, with "porceddu", a little pig cooked on the spit, lamb and kid roasts; fish, such as lobster "alla Vernaccia", mussels, dogfishes, fillets of brine tuna fish; among the cheeses, " pecorino, fiore sardo, ricotta, provole, fresa and casuascedu"; "pane carasau", a particular kind of bread that is the ideal accompaniment to every dish.
Desserts : we suggest "gueffus, candelaus, melichedas", sweets made of marzipan and covered with sugar, "amaretti, papassini, casadinas, pane 'e sapa, aranzada" and nougat.
Wines : Vermentino, Cannonau, Vernaccia, Mandrolisai, Carignano del Sulcis, Malvasia, Girò and Nasco.